Sunday, December 23, 2012

Braden Matthew Young


Our sweet little boy is 11 days old today, so it’s about time I write a little bit about how he came into the world. I can’t promise a super detailed post though, since my little man is falling asleep right next to me as I type and is making the cutest faces!

 

Braden Matthew Young was born on 12/12/12 at 5:43 p.m. I was originally scheduled to be induced on Thursday of that week, but got a phone call Tuesday afternoon saying that it would actually be Wednesday morning at 5:00 a.m. We were thrilled to meet him a day sooner, but had A LOT to get done! Turns out, it’s difficult to run baby errands while trying to cram all your finals into one day. Luckily, we were able to get everything together and make it to the hospital on time.



I have to say, it was a very interesting feeling walking calmly into the hospital that morning. I had always imagined my water breaking somewhere and the two of us rushing to the hospital with Devin sprinting to the doors while pushing me in a wheel chair. Maybe next time. After being asked a million questions, I was given an IV (one of the worst parts of the day. I’ve never been good with needles) and started on Pitocin. Shortly after, the anesthesiologist came in to give me the epidural. I had heard horror story after horror story about epidurals and was pretty nervous to get one. Luckily, Devin had given me a blessing and I felt really calm during the whole process. I even laughed a little when the doctor told me to curl my back forward “like an angry Halloween cat.” Once the epidural was over and I was hooked up to more tubes than I could count, the waiting game began. It was cool being able to see Braden’s heart beat on the screen and also track my contractions.



After what seemed like forever, the contractions got much stronger and I started dilating at a quicker pace. Braden’s heart rate kept dropping so they put me on oxygen for a few hours to try to regulate it. The rest of the day is all kind of a blur. I’m not sure it hit me that I was actually going to have a baby until my doctor came in and started setting everything up. Other nurses came that would clean the baby right after it was born. I realized then that they were all there because our son would be coming into the world in just a few minutes. It was such an incredible feeling!



After pushing for twenty minutes, Braden was born! I couldn’t believe I had made it through labor. I have never been very good with medical stuff and always thought that labor would be impossible to get through. With the help of an epidural, a supportive and amazing husband, an INCREDIBLE nurse that was with us for the majority of the day, and a wonderful doctor, I made it through the day! I can’t even describe how I felt when I was handed our tiny baby for the first time. I felt more love for that little stranger in that moment than I ever thought possible. I will remember that feeling forever!


We stayed in the hospital for a few days and then we got to take little Braden home with us. We stayed there for a few days and then drove up to Sandy, where we have been staying with my family for the last little while. The last 11 days have gone by so fast! We absolutely love Braden and are so happy to have him as part of our family!

Here are some pictures from the day:











  

Monday, August 27, 2012

my last first day of school

Today was the last time I will ever have a first day of school. What a strange realization! Even though I've been going to school all summer today still felt different and new and exciting. I made Devin take first day of school pictures before we left for class today (a tradition that I am definitely sticking to even when it's just Devin going to school haha). Campus was crowded with people today. I love people watching on the first day of school. It was really fun to run into friends I haven't seen since winter semester and catch up. It was funny to see their reactions as they looked down and saw my baby bump. It's amazing how much you change in just a few short months when there's a little baby growing inside you! Here are the pictures we took this morning: 



My doctor said that by 24 weeks even strangers will be able to tell I'm pregnant. Tomorrow will be my 24 week mark and I can back up his claim 100%! Maternity pants are my new favorite thing :)

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

end of summer thoughts

A lot has been happening in my life lately and with summer semester finals finished, I finally have some time to share! After finding out I was pregnant near the end of winter semester, I decided to do spring and summer semesters so that I could graduate before the baby comes. I knew it wouldn't be easy going to school straight from fall semester of 2011 through December of this year, but I really wanted to graduate before becoming a full-time mom. Now that I am finished with one of the most challenging summers of my life (morning sickness and early morning classes aren't the best combo), I am finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Only a few more months until I am done with school! I can't think of a better graduation gift than a little baby boy :)

I am so incredibly grateful for all the help I've received the last few months. I have such a testimony of the power of prayer. It's amazing to see how loving Heavenly Father is and how willing He is to help us through anything we're going through. I have felt His hand in my life more in the last few months than ever before in my life.

Summer classes haven't stopped me from being completely baby crazy. I absolutely LOVE looking at baby stuff, thinking of baby names, and thinking about what our little boy will look like (I'm hoping he'll look just like Devin). I still can't believe there's a little person in my stomach. I still get so excited every time I feel him move around. I can't wait to meet him!

Friday, July 13, 2012

LDS Infographic

I found this cool infographic on lds.org today. Cool!


Thursday, May 31, 2012

{ catching up }

Wow, it has been forever since I've written a new post! Since my last post A LOT has happened in the Young household. Here's a brief list of happenings to get you caught up with our family:

- Devin wrapped up another volleyball season. We're sad that BYU didn't come out on top, but they had a great season.

- I was hired as an advertising assistant at BYU Independent Study at the end of April. I've been working part-time and I love it!

- Devin was hired as a camp planner with BYU Sport's Camps. He is in charge of planning the lacrosse, rugby, volleyball, and swimming camps this summer. He's working full-time and might even have some overtime hours when the summer picks up.

- I started spring term classes. I'm enrolled in entrepreneurial marketing and strategic management and they have definitely been keeping me busy! I'll be taking summer classes too so I can graduate in December. Woo hoo!

- Devin got his mission bike out of storage and put it together. It is the tallest bike I have ever seen in my life, but fits him perfectly. Luckily he works on campus and can ride his bike to work so I can have the car.

- We moved! We found an apartment a few blocks down the street from our old apartment that was much cheaper and still had the layout we wanted. We also got to stay in the same ward! It's a little pink house that is split into two apartments. The people who live in the other half of the house are our good friends from the ward, which made the move an even easier decision :)

- We took a trip down to Las Vegas to meet up with some of Devin's family for Memorial Day weekend. We drove down with Kristin and stayed at Ryan and Sara's house with their cute family. Jared and Christy drove up from San Diego too. It was so much fun to spend time with some of his siblings and enjoy the warm Las Vegas weather. We really missed Nathan though! :( Sara and Ryan were so nice to let us sleep on their air mattresses and cook us meals. It was a great trip!

- Devin has become a chef extraordinaire! Since I don't get off work til 6, Devin has been making dinner most of the time. I have been amazed at how good they have been! The other night, he made us avocado chicken that was delicious! One of the many reasons why I love my husband :)

Even though Devin and I are busier than ever and have an apartment full of moving boxes, we are happier than ever! Hopefully, I will be better at writing blog posts.

Thursday, March 29, 2012

{ jane meets tanner }


My good friend Megan is doing an on-campus internship for a blog called "Jane Meets Tanner", which is all about women in the business school. The other day she featured me on the blog, so if you'd like to check it out to hear what I have to say about marketing click here.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

{called to serve}

Tiffany Knab opened her mission call last night and has been called to serve in...


the SCOTLAND IRELAND mission!!!


I am so excited for her! She reports to the MTC in England in August. I hope the people in Scotland and Ireland are ready for a POWER HOUSE missionary! 

She gets to live here for a year and a half...





Thursday, March 15, 2012

Hawaii

the view from his hotel window (taken from their website)

No, I'm not in Hawaii...or even going to go there soon. But Devin is! He left with his volleyball team yesterday on a direct flight to Honolulu, Hawaii. They're playing University of Hawaii Friday and Saturday nights and then they'll fly home Sunday night. Sounds like a fun trip to me! I've been spoiled to have him in town for the last three weeks so it was kind of hard saying good bye this time. It's always strange not having him around the apartment, but he always does a really good job at texting/calling me whenever he can (even with the time difference). I'm really glad he gets this opportunity to see beautiful places like Hawaii since I doubt we'll be vacationing to distant tropical lands any time soon. A little over our budget! I just hope the team has a chance to take some hula lessons. I would love to watch a group of 6'6+ guys doing the hula!

his hotel!

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

new hair

I've been wanting to cut my hair for a while and yesterday I finally did it! It feels so good to have healthy ends and fresh highlights. I'm ready for summer!

before. . .


after . . .


Tuesday, February 21, 2012

{ this water }

I am loving the bright, cheerful packaging of This Water! I wish I knew where I could buy some! 

 


Saturday, February 11, 2012

{ c r a f t y }

Devin has been in San Diego with the volleyball team since Wednesday so I've had a little bit of time to think of ways to make our apartment look better. I saw this tutorial from Make It and Love It and thought I'd give it a try. Thanks to a gift card to Hobby Lobby this project ended up being super cheap! I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out. It felt so good to do something creative! With school and adjusting to married life, I haven't really had time to stuff like this. Hopefully I won't have to wait until Devin goes out of town to do another project :)








SO FUN!!

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

{ wedding memories: the reception }

The reception was beautiful! I really didn't get to walk around and see everything, so it was so fun to look at pictures of the food, the decorations, the amazing cake, and some of the funny things that happened.  There were so many people who helped out with different parts of the reception. People were there to greet the guests and take the gifts, there were servers who helped clear the tables, ladies were at the food tables serving mashed potatoes and hot chocolate, many people helped clean up after it was over and do the dishes, and so much more. Thank you to everyone who helped out! Here are some of my favorite pictures from the reception:

















{ wedding memories }

            Devin and I got married a month ago this Friday! We just got our wedding pictures back this last week so I think it's time I posted some of my favorites. That day was simply perfect. It started off with a wedding luncheon at the Lion House. The food was wonderful and it was so great to see so many family members and friends. I felt so much love and support as I looked around the room at so many people who had had an impact on my life. After the luncheon, we headed over to the temple to prepare for the ceremony. Even though I felt stressed because of all the wedding details I had on my mind, the temple was really a place of peace for me. As I went with my mom into the bride's room to get ready, I was reminded over and over that I was making the right decision and that this was what the Lord wanted me to do. I felt so strongly the love that Heavenly Father had for Devin and I. The ceremony was very special and very sacred. 
             As we prepared to leave the temple, we could see that something wasn't right outside. One of the photographers told us that the videographer wasn't there yet so we were going to stall for a little while. It's funny how things that would have stressed me out completely the day before the wedding, really didn't have the same effect right after the temple sealing. I don't think anything could have made me mad at that moment! I had just married the man of my dreams!  :) We ended up just going on without the videographer and everything worked out just fine. Luckily, we had an AMAZING photographer. Kiera did an amazing job! It was so neat to walk out of the temple and see your family and friends cheering and smiling at you. It was an amazing feeling! I also felt so blessed to have my mother's parents there looking on from the waiting room. My grandma was just diagnosed with breast cancer a little while ago and has been recovering from surgeries and radiation. I love her so much for making the effort to be with me on such a special day. I will always be grateful for the way she made me feel so loved and special. 
            We lucked out with great weather! There was no snow and it stayed light just long enough so that we could take pictures. Because our sealing time was at 3:00 p.m., we were able to catch the beginning of the christmas lights in some of our pictures. It was beautiful! I was FREEZING by the end, but my mom had brought a fur blanket to wrap around me between pictures which helped a lot.
             Here are some of my favorite pictures from the temple: